Combined rail-joint and locking-plate.



J. T. FINLEY, In. & J. T. PINLEY, SR. COMBINED RAIL JOINT AND LOOKING PLATE. APPLICATION FILED SBPT:12, 1912.

,061,232. Patented May 6, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAFH c0.. WASHINGTON, b. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. ZEINLEY, JR., AND JOHN T. FINLEY, sa, or ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1913.

' Application filed September 12, 1912. Serial No. 720,034.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN T. FINLEY, Jr., and JOHN T. FINLEY, Six, citizens of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvem'ents in Combined Rail-Joints and Locking-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a device for connecting the meeting ends of railroad rails and has for its object the provision of means for connecting the two ends of the rails having in combination therewith a resilient locking plate mounted on the rail joint support that operates to clamp the joint plates in engagement with the rails and also serves to hold the nuts in engagement with the bolts and prevent them from becoming unscrewed.

Our invention will be described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a cross section of a railroad rail and our improved joint showing the locking plate before being tightened on the joint. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the bolts in engagement with the rail and joint plates and the locking plate in operative position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the base member of the joint. Fig. 1 is a horizontal longitudinal section view of the end fragments of two rails and our'improved joint and look.

In the drawings similar reference characters will be used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A and B indicate the meeting ends of two rails.

Our improved joint comprises three members, indicated generally at 1, 2, and 3. Member 1 comprises a base portion 1*, having one of its side edges provided with an upwardly extending portion 1", an inwardly and upwardly inclined portion 1, and a substantially vertical portion 1, that is adapted to engage one of the sides of the webs of the rails A and B. The vertical portion 1 has its upper edge formed, as shown at 1, to engage the under side of the tread portion of the rail and its side toward the web of the rail formed with a longitudinal groove 1. The opposite edge of the base plate 1 is formed with an upwardly extending flange 1 having its inner edge formed with a longitudinal bead 1 with an undercut groove 1 The member 2 of the joint consists of a substantially vertical. portion 2 to engage the inner side of the webs of the rails A and B with its upper edge formed as shown at 2", to engage the under side of the tread of the rail and is provided on the side toward the web of the rail with a longitudinal groove 2 The lower edge of the vertical portion 2* formed with an integral outwardly and downwardly inclined portion 2 and a downwardly extending flange 2.

The member 3 is constructed of resilient material, such as steel, and comprises an angular plate, as shown in the drawings indicated at 3, adapted to engage the part 2. An outwardly extending and downwardly inclined portion is adapted to seat upon the part 2 and the outer edge of said part 2 is provided with a down ardly extending portion 3 ending in an outwardly and slightly upwardly inclined flange 8" that is adapted to engage the groove 1 under the bead 1 of the part 1.

The vertical portion 1, the vertical portion 2 and the part 3 are provided with openings designated at 4, 5, and 6, respectively, and are adapted to aline with the openings C and D in the webs of the rails A and B, respectively, said openings being adapted to receive bolts E of the ordinary construction on which are mounted the nuts F.

In applying our invention to the ends of the railroad rails, it will be understood that the rails are seated on the base portion 1 of the part 1 and the rail moved into engagement with the vertical portion 1 so that the base flange seats under the inclined portion 1. The part 2 is then placed in the position, as shown at Figs. 1 and 2, and the locking plate 3 is then placed in position, the hook flange 3 being engaged with the groove 1 under the head 1. When the bolts E are inserted through the openings in the parts 1, 2, and 3, and the openings in the rails and the nuts F screwed up on the bolts, it will be apparent that the part 3 will be sprung into engagement with the vertical portion 2 and the parts 1 and 2 held in close engagement with the rails. Furthermore the tension of the locking plate 3 in engagement with the nut F, will tend to bind the threads of the nut on the bolt E and prevent the nut from unscrewing.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is i 1. In a combined rail joint and locking plate, a member comprising a base plate, one edge of said member being provided with an upwardly extending portion adapted to engage one side of the rail, the other edge of said base portion" being provided with an upwardly extending flange having an undercut groove on its inner side, a member shaped to fit the opposite side of the rail, and a locking plate adapted to cooperate with the last mentioned member and provided with a flange adapted to engage the undercut portion aforesaid.

2. A combined rail joint and locking plate comprising a member consisting of a base plate, one edge of said base plate provided with an upwardly extending portion adapted to fit one side of a rail, a member adapted to fit the other side of the rail, said base plate being provided with an upwardly ex tending flange on the edge opposite to the first mentioned upwardly extending portion, and having a longitudinal undercut groove in its inner side, and a locking plate of resilient material adapted to engage the last mentioned member and provided with a flange adapted to seat in the undercut groove aforesaid. I I

3. A combined rail joint and locking plate comprising three members, one of said members consisting of a horizontal base plate, one of the edges of said base plate having an upwardly extending portion, an inwardly inclined portion, and a vertically extending portion, the opposite edge of said plate having an upwardly extending'flange with its inner side formed with an undercut groove, another of said -members consisting of a vertical portion, an outwardly inclined por tion, and a downwardly extending flange, a third member comprising the locking plate and consisting of an angular plate of resilient material adapted to seat upon the last mentioned member, the lower edge of said angular plate being provided with a downwardly extending hook shaped flange adapted to seat within the undercut groove aforesaid.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signa tures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN T. FINLEY, J R. JOHN T. FINLEY, SR. Witnesses:

THOS. V. FLYNN, W. T. MORRIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

